NFL Top Performers - Week 14

Tim Eisenhut

12/11/2007

Brandon Marshall has been just one of many young studs to step up and show he's the real deal in 2007...while veterans like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates continue to prove each week why they're top at their positions. Check out Marshall, LT, Gates, and other Top Performers for week 14.

QUARTERBACKS

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't scare Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in week 14...Brady crushed the Steeler pass D with 400 yards and 4 TDs on 46 passes. Seahawk QB Matt Hasselbeck had one of his best games this season as he shredded the Cardinals for 272 yards and 4 scores. Peyton Manning needed only one half and 13 passes to destroy Baltimore on SNF...Manning tossed 4 TDs in short order and was assigned the bench for the remaining of the contest. Jay Cutler hammered the Chiefs for 4 TDs. Kurt Warner didn't have his usual healthy wide receivers, but Warner was still able to toss 3 TDs and 336 yards in the Arizona loss to the Seahawks. New Orleans and cool Drew Brees were way too much for Atlanta on MNF...Brees threw 3 TDs and 330+ yards in the blowout. With only 11 completions and 165 yards passing, Trent Edwards still managed 4 TDs in an impressive effort. Sage Rosenfels threw 3 TDs. Tony Romo and Chris Redman each threw around 300 passing yards and a couple of TDs apiece in week 14.

LaDainian Tomlinson may have moved back to the top of fantasy running backs for 2007 with his 173 yard / 2 TD effort against the Titans on Sunday. Marion Barber busted out for 3 TDs (11 on the season) in Detroit against the Lions. Joseph Addai and the Indianapolis Colts needed only a half to shut the door on the Ravens...Addai put up 3 TDs on only 16 touches in the blowout. Former Raven Jamal Lewis rushed for well over 100 yards and a couple of TDs...Lewis was thought to be done producing years ago, but is having a huge 2007 - 11 TDs and over 1100 yards. Since Cadillac Williams went down earlier this season, Earnest Graham has stepped up...Graham had 2 more TDs for the Busc in week 14. Ryan Grant may have been the 5th to start for the Packers in 2007, but Grant is the real deal...Grant rushed for 156 yards and a TD on Sunday and continues to shock fantasy owners who grabbed RG from the waiver wire several weeks into the season. Kevin Jones was thought to have a bad matchup against Dallas, but KJ didn't get the message...Jones put up 2 TDs on the Boys and nearly helped the Lions pull off the win. It was Fred Taylor who had the stats (over Maurice Jones-Drew) in week 14 with a whopping 156 yards and a TD. Brian Westbrook totaled 154 total yards and a score for Philly. Few fantasy owners were able to take advantage of Samkon Gado's 2 TDs. LenDale White had a nice week 14 with 137 total yards and a score. Chester Taylor filled in nicely again for Adrian Peterson and gained 124 all-purpose yards and a score on just 11 touches. Selvin Young had huge rushing yardage (156 yds) in Denver's win over KC. Rudi Johnson managed to score on his 90+ yards for Cincy. Willie Parker, Clinton Portis, Fred Jackson, Thomas Jones, Frank Gore, Steven Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, and Aaron Stecker all achieved some nice yardage in week 14, but none of the RBs were able to make it across the goalline.

Top Fantasy Running Backs -
Week 14

RB

Rush Att

Rush Yards

Rcptns

Rec Yards

Total Yards

TDs

LaDainian Tomlinson

26

146

5

27

173

2

Marion Barber

7

43

10

61

104

3

Joseph Addai

13

32

3

49

81

3

Jamal Lewis

21

118

3

19

137

2

Earnest Graham

15

61

6

45

106

2

Ryan Grant

29

156

2

6

162

1

Kevin Jones

23

92

1

10

102

2

Fred Taylor

18

132

2

24

156

1

Brian Westbrook

20

116

5

38

154

1

Samkon Gado

12

52

2

41

93

2

LenDale White

30

113

2

24

137

1

Chester Taylor

8

101

3

23

124

1

Selvin Young

17

156

0

0

156

0

Rudi Johnson

23

92

1

1

93

1

Willie Parker

21

124

4

23

147

0

Clinton Portis

17

36

6

86

122

0

Fred Jackson

15

115

1

6

121

0

Thomas Jones

24

106

1

13

117

0

Steven Jackson

18

91

4

26

117

0

Frank Gore

16

68

8

49

117

0

Marshawn Lynch

23

107

0

0

107

0

Aaron Stecker

20

100

3

7

107

0

WIDE RECEIVERS

Randy Moss bumped his yardage to over 1250 and TD total to 19 with another huge game. With Marvin Harrison still out, it was rookie Anthony Gonzalez who capitalized this week for the colts in his absence...Gonzo grabbed 6 balls for 134 yards and a couple of scores in the blowout over the Ravens in Baltimore. Brandon Marshall is proving he's the real deal in Denver...Marshall caught 10 balls on Sunday and converted 2 of the catches into scores. After a rough start to 2007, Marques Colston bumped his yardage up to nearly 1000, his receptions to 79, and his TDs to 8 with another stellar effort in week 14. Lee Evans has struggled a bit this season, but Evans impressed on Sunday with 2 catches for scores from Buffalo QB Trent Edwards. Plaxico Burress keeps on chugging through his injuries...Plax put up 136 yards and a TD in the Giants week 14 victory. Jerheme Urban (who?) had some nice numbers, but it's a guarantee that zero fantasy owners were benefactors. David Patten and Jabar Gaffney both had nearly identical games to Urban with 120+ receiving yards and a score. Greg Jennings produced with the long ball again from QB Brett Favre. Bernard Berrian, Reggie Williams, Michael Jenkins, and Andre Johnson all had some decent yardage and managed to score in week 14. Jerricho Cotchery didn't find the endzone on Sunday, but did produce 119 yards on 6 receptions.

Top Fantasy Wide Receivers
- Week 14

WR

Rcptns

Rec Yards

TDs

Randy Moss

7

135

2

Anthony Gonzalez

6

134

2

Brandon Marshall

10

115

2

Marques Colston

9

92

2

Lee Evans

2

79

2

Plaxico Burress

7

136

1

Jerheme Urban

6

123

1

David Patten

9

122

1

Jabar Gaffney

7

122

1

Greg Jennings

2

100

1

Bernard Berrian

7

91

1

Reggie Williams

5

90

1

Michael Jenkins

9

83

1

Andre Johnson

9

82

1

Jerricho Cotchery

6

119

0

TIGHT ENDS

Jason Witten is having a career year...Witten caught 15 (FIFTEEN) balls on Sunday for 138 yards and a score for the Dallas Cowboys. Robert Royal caught 2 TD passes in week 14 for any fantasy owner fortunate (or lucky) enough to have him in their starting lineup. Tony Gonzalez seems like he's been in the league 25 years, but he's still producing...Gonzo caught 7 for 76 yards with a score against the Broncos in week 14. Donald Lee had another nice game from QB Brett Favre. Antonio Gates needed until the 4th quarter to get it going against the Titans...but he did eventually get his motor starter to help the Chargers in a come from behind victory. Daniel Graham showed up and produced on Sunday. Chris Cooley has been the top receiver in Washington lately...Cooley had 93 receiving yards in week 14 for the Skins.

Top Fantasy Tight Ends -
Week 14

TE

Rcptns

Rec Yards

TDs

Jason Witten

15

138

1

Robert Royal

3

46

2

Tony Gonzalez

7

76

1

Donald Lee

4

71

1

Antonio Gates

6

57

1

Daniel Graham

3

55

1

Chris Cooley

5

93

0

News and Notes - Reggie Bush may be done for the season...but no official word has been given (with other rumors stating that Bush could return for the Saints playoff games if necessary)...Dallas and San Diego both wrestled victories from defeats in week 14...New England and Miami may both set records this season (Pats will go undefeated and the Fins likely won't win a game)...Kyle Orton will start for the Bears in week 15 (and I say it's about time! - esp. after Orton led the Bears to 10 wins in 2005 prior to Rex Grossman's return for the playoff game...only to lose it with ill-advised passes)...Sage Rosenfels has been named the starter for the Texans in week 15...Larry Fitzgerald was able to go in week 14 and the Cardinals are encouraged that Anquan Boldin may return alongside Fitz for week 15...Niners QB Alex Smith is done for the season...Marc Bulger's status (concussion) for week 15 remains uncertain...The Seahawks plan to rotate Maurice Morris and Shaun Alexander the rest of the season...Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in jail on Monday